Methods and apparatus for integrating near field communication antenna with display pixel activation line

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for integrating a near field communication antenna with a display pixel activation line. The near field communication antenna can facilitate wireless communication between an electronic device and other devices that are nearby.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:
 a pixel array including a first display pixel and a second display pixel, the first display pixel including a liquid crystal display (LCD) cell in circuit with a transistor and a pixel activation voltage common line; 
 a display controller; 
 a pixel activation line in circuit with the display controller to carry a display activation signal from the display controller to the pixel array, the display activation signal to activate visual display of at least one of the first display pixel or the second display pixel; 
 a frequency multiplexer to multiplex a wireless communication signal and the display activation signal for transmission via the pixel activation line; and 
 an antenna controller to transmit the wireless communication signal through the pixel activation line and the pixel activation voltage common line. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , in which the display controller is to communicate with the pixel activation line via the frequency multiplexer to activate visual display of the at least one of the first display pixel or the second display pixel in response to the display activation signal, the display activation signal having a display activation signal frequency. 
     
     
       3. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the frequency multiplexer is to multiplex the display activation signal between the display controller and the pixel activation line based on the display activation signal frequency. 
     
     
       4. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the display activation signal has a display activation signal frequency; 
 the wireless communication signal has a wireless communication signal frequency; and 
 the wireless communication signal frequency is higher than the display activation signal frequency. 
 
     
     
       5. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further including a timing switch to select the display activation signal for transmission on the pixel activation line when the at least one of the first display pixel and the second display pixel is to be activated. 
     
     
       6. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 5 , further including a timing switch to select the wireless communication signal for transmission on the pixel activation line while the display activation signal is not selected by the timing switch. 
     
     
       7. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further including a planar pixel array substrate, the pixel array including the first display pixel and a first additional display pixel disposed on the planar pixel array substrate, the pixel activation line disposed on the planar pixel array substrate between the first display pixel and the first additional display pixel. 
     
     
       8. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 7 , including an additional pixel activation line in circuit with the first additional display pixel to activate visual display of the first additional display pixel, the antenna controller to couple the wireless communication signal through the additional pixel activation line. 
     
     
       9. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication apparatus is wrist wearable. 
     
     
       10. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pixel activation line has a resistivity of less than one ohm per meter. 
     
     
       11. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , further including a touchscreen over the pixel array. 
     
     
       12. A wireless communication apparatus comprising:
 a display stack including a liquid crystal display (LCD) cell in circuit with a pixel activation voltage common line; 
 a pixel activation line in circuit with the display stack, the pixel activation line to carry a display activation signal to activate visual display of the LCD cell; 
 a frequency multiplexer to multiplex an NFC signal and the display activation signal over the pixel activation line; 
 a touch sensor; and 
 an antenna controller to transmit the NFC signal through the pixel activation line and the pixel activation voltage common line. 
 
     
     
       13. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the display stack includes a pixel including the LCD cell. 
     
     
       14. The wireless communication apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the pixel activation line is to activate the pixel in a first time period and to transmit the NFC signal in a second time period, the first time period not overlapping the second time period. 
     
     
       15. A method of operating a display, the method comprising:
 multiplexing a display activation signal and a wireless communication signal to be transmitted over a pixel activation line, the pixel activation line in circuit with a display controller, a frequency multiplexer, and a display pixel; 
 in response to the multiplexing, transmitting the display activation signal via the pixel activation line to activate visual display of the display pixel at a first time; and 
 in response to the multiplexing, transmitting the wireless communication signal via the pixel activation line and a pixel activation voltage common line at a second time different from the first time. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as defined in  claim 15 , further including controlling a timing switch to select the display activation signal when the display pixel is to be activated. 
     
     
       17. The method as defined in  claim 16 , further including controlling the timing switch to select the wireless communication signal.